Page 6 - Community Living Magazine 30-3

newS

newS In BrIeF “AmBItIouS reFormS” neeDeD
Hft voices ‘concern’ over to HAlVe tHe DISABIlItY
Surrey social care arrangements emPloYment gAP, SAYS SCoPe
ft, the national charity supporting adults with esearch by the charity but the labour market is
H learning disabilities, has expressed concern over r Scope reveals that 58 stacked against them.
developments between Surrey County Council and the per cent of disabled people
Department for Communities and Local Government have felt at risk of losing The Government’s
(DCLG) about adult social care funding. Surrey had their jobs because of their consultation on reforming
originally announced that there would be a local impairment. A further 53 employment support for
referendum where local residents would decide whether per cent have felt bullied or disabled people closed in
they wished to pay an additional precept on their harassed at work. February. Scope is calling
Council Tax to fund gaps in the social care budget. for meaningful change,
The idea of a referendum was later dropped and it was The charity is calling for requiring the Government
announced that Surrey would pilot a government scheme real reforms to resolve the to listen to the views of
to allow local authorities to retain and spend business disability employment gap. disabled people and bring
rates. An independent report commissioned last year forward a White Paper that
by Hft concluded that the learning disability sector Scope’s Head of Policy sets out real reforms to
needed an annual funding uplift of at least 5% to remain and Public Affairs, support disabled people in
adequately funded. James Taylor, welcomes the and out of work.
Government’s commitment to
engaging in democracy halve the gap but urges them The Government needs to
he House of Commons has issued guidance for to be ambitious with their set out a cross-departmental
t visitors to Parliament with autism. It has been reforms.“The current level strategy for meeting the
produced in the form of a series of ‘social stories’ which of exclusion felt by commitment to halve the
explain what will happen at each stage of the visit, disabled people in the gap, says the charity.
from arriving at security through to attending debates, work place is unacceptable,”
committees or meetings. The Speaker of the House of he said. Specialist employment
Commons, John Bercow, commented, “We are support is key to
committed to making it as easy as possible for people to The Government has made a recognising disabled
discover the Houses of Parliament and I am delighted commitment to halve the gap people’s ambitions and
to see this new guide published. There should be no –the difference between the the support they need,
barriers to learning more about our history from our number of non-disabled and alongside action to tackle
excellent Visit Parliament team, and getting as many disabled people in work. negative attitudes in
people as possible more engaged in our democracy.” Yet the most recent Labour the workplace.
http://www.parliament.uk/guidance-for-visitors-with-autism/ Market Statistics show the
Fashion design breakthrough gap is currently 30.8 per Employers should be put
under pressure to take a
cent, the level at which
sabella Springmuhl, a fashion designer from it has stayed for over proactive approach to
I Guatemala, has become the frst person with Down’s a decade. inclusion, with measures
syndrome to have a clothing line featured at London for recruiting, supporting
Fashion Week. Using traditional Mayan textiles she Many disabled people are and developing disabled
makes clothes that will ft people with Down’s syndrome, trying hard to get jobs and employees put at the heart
who she says often have diffculty fnding clothes that ft progress in their careers of business planning.
both their bodies and personalities. Having overcome
initial discrimination to entering the fashion world, after
London she will be featuring her designs in Rome.
She commented, “I want to inspire people, to look
around and see me – a girl with Down’s syndrome who
has no fear and is able to reach her goal.”
new materials to combat bullying
he open university with Access All Areas
t and Disability History month have launched a
set of free online materials to combat bullying in schools.
The materials have been produced in response to the
prevalence of negative language against disabled
people and increased name-based bullying at schools
and colleges. The resource will be useful for teachers,
particularly in raising understanding among students
about fellow students with learning disabilities.
http://www.open.ac.uk/health-and-social-care/research/ Retiring editor Elinor Harbridge is handing the reins to the
shld/education-resources new editor Simon Jarrett. See End of an era, page 12.

4 Vol 30 No 3 | Spring 2017 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk